Past Purdue Recruits

[HomelessHarvey97]

As a fan of both HS and NCAA basketball I've enjoyed watching kids develop and get recruited. Also enjoyed following their recruitments and anticipating their commitments (the key is to not go into full mental breakdown mode when he doesn't choose your school).

Wondering if some of the historians on this board could share some of their favorite/interesting Purdue recruiting tales.

 

[takedownboiler]

For football. Big play Ray had an interesting recruitment going down to the final hours. Also Ryan Bakers was wild.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

For football. Big play Ray had an interesting recruitment going down to the final hours. Also Ryan Bakers was wild.

Yep- for hoops Jamal magloire was a crazy one. Slick Rick hired his HS coach and stole him at the last second from us.

 

[nagemj02]

I don't really have a particularly interesting one but I met A.J. Hammons when he was in-between games at an AAU tournament at Spiece in Fort Wayne in the summer of 2009. He and one of his AAU teammates were standing in the center of where two walk-ways met (the entrance hallway and the walk-way leading up to the courts), so it looked like they wanted to be seen (out in the open). I had a Purdue jersey on and had just started hearing about him in the previous few months so I walked up, greeted him, and asked about what schools he was interested in (he said Ohio State and Purdue; he might have said Minnesota and Cincinnati as well, I can't remember for sure) and then just wished him well after that.

 

[nagemj02]

Yep- for hoops Jamal magloire was a crazy one. Slick Rick hired his HS coach and stole him at the last second from us.

Yep, I remember that. That really p-d me off.

 

[Schnelk]

And then there's the one about Rashard Griffith.....

 

[bled1720]

Yep, I remember that. That really p-d me off.

I was in Kokomo for a Purdue golf outing right at the height/end of the Magliore recruitment. I was on the putting green and walked over to Coach Kendrick to ask if we were getting Jamal. All he said was "no" and shook his head in disgust. I didn't try to pry.

Later, at the dinner Coach Keady was asked the same question. He responded "Either the LOI was lost in the mail or Kentucky bought him"!

We know how that ended!!

 

[Boilermb]

Rick Mount committed to Miami of Florida, before being convinced to stay closer to home and sign with Purdue.

 

[HomelessHarvey97]

These are very interesting.

Keep 'em coming.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

And then there's the one about Rashard Griffith.....

Griffith was quoted many years later saying, "I should have gone to Purdue." His mom wanted him to, IIRC.

 

[Boilermb]

Russell Cross announced at his press conference that he was going to UIC. He was wearing a Purdue cap and t-shirt as he made the announcement, with Gene Keady in attendance. Coincidentally, his high school coach had just been named an assistant at UIC.
His mother heard the announcement, had a talk with him, and shortly thereafter Russell Cross committed to Purdue.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

Russell Cross announced at his press conference that he was going to UIC. He was wearing a Purdue cap and t-shirt as he made the announcement, with Gene Keady in attendance. Coincidentally, his high school coach had just been named an assistant at UIC.
His mother heard the announcement, had a talk with him, and shortly thereafter Russell Cross committed to Purdue.

What happened to his HS coach?

 

[Boilermb]

No idea. That coach's name was Willie Little.

 

[Boileratthebeach]

And then there's the one about Rashard Griffith.....

That was a tough loss. I remember they sent The Big Dog up there to recruit him. I even remember him saying well into his Wisconsin career he was regretful of his decision. Oh well.